The Museum of Witchcraft

Cursing and Curses

Cursing is ill wishing or using magic to harm someone or something. Much of the early recorded evidence of witchcraft is from trials or parish records that describe in detail the curses issued by local witches. The very nature of these documents however, excludes records of good work done by witches.

A witch would not be put on trial for curing a neighbour's sheep or bull and consequently little evidence of their good deeds has survived.

The best known and most effective method of cursing someone is to use a poppet (doll). The doll is fashioned into a likeness of the unfortunate individual, then ritually harmed, usually by stabbing with pins. Incorporating an object that belonged to the victim within the poppet makes the curse especially effective. One of the poppets on display has human pubic hair sewn in place, others have nail parings.

Many modern witches or Wiccans believe in the law of three-fold return; i.e. what you wish on somebody you will receive back with three times the intensity.

Another rule that is held by most Wiccans is known as the Wiccan Rede;

And it harm none do what you will.

In other words do whatever you like as long as it does not harm anything or anyone, including yourself.

Some of the curses displayed were discovered in the house of Cecil Williamson after his death in 1999. Cecil Williamson (founder of this museum) did not believe in the 'harm none' ethic and would curse those whom he thought deserved it.

The items on display in this area are all genuine and some of them are disturbing. We also display some modern Voodoo kits of dolls and pins that, unfortunately, can be purchased today in leading bookshops.